Beam dyeing machines



Aug. 8', 1967 E. STANWAY 3,334,498

BEAM DYEING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 wyavme EDWARD .S'MNWAY Aug. 8, 1967 E. STANWAY BEAM DYEING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Shee 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1965 5 V: A *0 W W m W s W 0 n M mm W 1967 E. STANWAY 3,334,498

BEAM DYEING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 lA/VE/V TOP. E DWARD STA/W74) 7707540 iamam 1967 E. STANWAY 3,334,498

BEAM DYEING MACHINES Filed Oct. 14, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I/VVENTOP.

EDWARD STA/W74) BY Kama/$5M Ania/WEB United States Patent 3,334,498 BEAM DYEING MACHINES Edward Stanway, Fountain St., Macclesfield, Chester, England Filed Oct. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 495,889 Claims. (Cl. 68-189) This invention relates to improvements in horizontal beam dyeing machines.

It has been proposed to construct horizontal beam dyeing machines for high temperature operation (usually working at a pressure of 30 pounds per square inch to achieve temperatures in excess of 130 C.) of cylindrical shape with the beam pushed in at the open end of the cylinder. Whilst the cylindrical form is the most economical way of producing a high pressure, there are certain advantages to be gained if the beam can be inserted from the open top of the machine similar to an open beam rectangular dyer on which:

(a) Space is Wasted in front of a cylindrical machine since the beam has to be withdrawn to its full length in order to be extracted.

(b) To insert the beam a comparatively expensive form of carriage device has to be incorporated to ensure ease of loading, and correct mating of the inlet to the beam where the pressure is applied.

(c) Once the beam is inserted in a cylindrical machine and the end door closed, inspection of the dyeing process is impossible at all temperatures. On the other hand with the top loading, the dyeing process is under visual observation right up to (atmospheric) boiling point, it is only after this point that visual control is lost.

(d) Some simplification of operation and manufacture can be achieved, with the open top machine, in loading the machine with the dye liquor (this is done by normal gravity methods). In a cylindrical machine an expansion chamber is necessary, whereas in the open top machine this is taken care of because the machine does not have to be filled to its limit, thus leaving space for expansion.

Attempts have been made to achieve this top loading method by stiffening the rectangular tank of the same beam dyer, and fitting it with a very strong gasketed cover. The trouble has always been that as the working pressure goes up, the amount of stiffening required to overcome deflection on the flat plates becomes extremely costly and cumbersome.

According to the present invention a machine is provided in which the lower portion of the vessel is formed part-cylindrical with domed ends and with a top of rectangular shape in plan closed by a lid fitted with cramp or locking bars and having reinforcing ribs at intervals along the length of the vessel.

The invention will be described with reference accompanying drawings:

FIGS. 1 and 1 is a side elevation of the machine.

FIGS. 2 and 2 is a plan of same.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2

FIG. 4 is a part side elevation of a further mechanism.

FIG. 5 is an end elevation of same.

FIG. 6 is a detail elevation to a larger scale of part of the locking mechanism for the lid or cover of the machine.

FIG. 7 is a plan of same.

The machine (FIGS. 1 to 3) is constructed with a vessel A having a cylindrical lower portion 1 with the sides 2 extending upwards to provide a rectangular top in plan.

Each end of the cylindrical portion of the vessel is outwardly domed and one end is provided with a screwed spindle 4 for locating a beam B the spindle 4 passing through the domed end 3 and through a stufling box 5 and packing to seal the aperture in the end 3 for the passage of spindle.

to the The spindle 4 screws through a housing 7 bolted to lugs 8 welded to the outside of the end and carries on its inner end a spiggot head 9 rotatable about the spindle on a ball race 11 to engage and locate one end of a beam B in the machine after lowering through the rectangular opening in the top onto supporting brackets 12. The other end of the beam is located on a supporting bracket in the opposite domed end of the vessel through which liquor is circulated.

The upwardly extending sides are reinforced at intervals throughout the length of the vessel by ribs 13 welded to the sides of the vessel and carrying brackets 14 through which pass hinge pins 15 passing through lugs on the machine frame. The surface of the ribs 13 in contact with the vessel are shaped to correspond therewith.

Any tendency for the straight sides of the top of the vessel to expand outwards due to the pressure is overcome by the fitting of clamp bars 16 on the hinge pins 15 engaging lugs on the lid or vessel, the clamp bars being arranged at intervals along the length of the vessel.

The lid or cover C is of rectangular shape with slotted lugs 17 projecting therefrom at intervals to receive the clamp bars 16 or with a flange running the full length of each side and end to cramp the lid or cover to prevent spread. The clamps 16 for the lid or cover C may be secured by wing nuts 18 or by hydraulic clamps.

A moulded rubber ring (FIG. 7) is provided between the lid or cover and the top of the vessel, the ring being formed with a bifurcated inner peripheral lip to spread over the edge of the lid or cover C and vessel body A, pressure on the lip causing spreading thereof thus the higher the pressure the better the seal.

The lid or cover C is pivoted on brackets 21 on arms 22 and may be counter balanced by a balance weight 23 to facilitate opening and closing.

In a larger machine as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 the ribs 13 are strengthened by longitudinal members 24 and the lid or cover C is opened and closed by an hydraulic cylinder 25.

The lid or cover C is locked in the closed position by a second hydraulic cylinder 26 acting through a lever 27 pivoted on the frame and connected to a locking bar 28.

The locking bar 28 is provided with a plurality of arms 29 each carrying a pin 31 each of which passes through a hole in a lug 32 on the lid or cover and through lugs 33 011 brackets on the frame. The hydraulic cylinders 25 and 26 are interlocked between themselves and with safety valves so that pressure cannot be applied until the lid or cover C is securely locked and so that the lid or cover cannot be unlocked until all internal pressure has been removed.

In operation the lid or cover is raised and the beam B is freed from the locating spindles and then lifted out through the opening in the top of the vessel.

Liquor may be circulated inside the vessel as described in specification No. 3,100,979 and a sampling tank D may also be provided as described in the aforesaid specification.

What I claim is:

1. A horizontal beam dyeing machine comprising a vessel, a cylindrical wall bounding the lower portion of the vessel and a rectangular wall bounding the upper portion of the vessel, outwardly domed ends to the cylindrical portion, a lid to close the upper portion, reinforcing ribs spaced at intervals transversely of the periphery of the vessel and cramps for securing the lid in position pivoted on the reinforcing ribs.

2. A horizontal beam dyeing machine as in claim 1 comprising a beam in combination with a screwed spindle passing through each domed end, a spiggot head on the spindle for locating the beam and a stuffing box and seal through which the spindle passes.

3. A horizontal beam dyeing machine as in claim 1 comprising a beam in combination with a screwed spindle passing through each domed end, a spiggot head on the spindle for locating the beam, supporting brackets for the beam extending transversely of the cylindrical portion of the vessel and a stutfing box and seal through which the spindle passes.

4. A horizontal beam dyeing machine as in claim 1, brackets on the machine frame on which the lid is pivoted, and a counter weight affixed to the lid.

5. A horizontal beam dyeing machine comprising a vessel, a cylindrical wall bounding the lower portion of the vessel and a rectangular wall bounding the upper portion of the vessel outwardly domed ends to the cylindrical portion, a lid to close the upper portion brackets on the frame on which the lid is pivoted, an hydraulic cylinder by which the lid is raised and lowered, reinforcing ribs spaced at intervals transversely of the periphery of the vessel, a locking bar, lugs on the frame and on the lid, arms on the locking bar and pins passing through the lugs to maintain the lid closed, a lever pivoted on the frame and affixed to the locking bar and an hydraulic cylinder by which the lever is operated.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS IRVING BUNEVICH, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HORIZONTAL BEAM DYEING MACHINE COMPRISING A VESSEL, A CYLINDRICAL WALL BOUNDING THE LOWER PORTION OF THE VESSEL AND A RECTANGULAR WALL BOUNDING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE VESSEL, OUTWARDLY DOMED ENDS TO THE CYLINDRICAL PORTION, A LID TO CLOSE THE UPPER PORTION, REINFORCING RIBS SPACED AT INTERVALS TRANSVERSELY OF THE PERIPHERY OF THE VESSEL AND CRAMPS FOR SECURING THE LID IN POSITION PIVOTED ON THE REINFORCING RIBS. 